Book 3: Fighting for Myself

Candace

Mother’s wall of wind reaches out to ensnare me, and I realize it doesn’t matter if I can kill her. I need to fight, or there’s no way out. Heart pounding, I dodge away from reaching fingers of wind, so close they ruffle my fur, and turn. She lurks across the circle from me, obviously waiting for my response.

‘That is your strong suit,’ I bark through the mind-link. ‘Waiting for others to act.’

She snarls, and in her split-second of distraction, I charge her. I’ve never spoken to her like that before. The words burn through me, hot and electric. If I can do that—

A club of wind slams into my side, sending me skidding through the snow. Pain radiates through my ribs.

‘Do not mistake patience for passivity,’ Mother replies.

The club rears back, ready to strike again. I kick my back legs and roll away. A cloud of snow puffs into the air where it lands beside me. I only have a split second to breathe before I have to roll again